1From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 15 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society I have just received your No 11. dated the 22d. of May. This Line serves chiefly to recommend to your Civilities two of my English Friends, who will probably pass through Philadelphia in their Way to Virginia. As they are lately from London, they can give you a good Account of the State of Parties there, and the general Disposition of the Nation respecting...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 26 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS , press copies of each LS , and transcript: National Archives I have just received your No. 15. dated the 9th of August, which mentions your not having heard from me since March. I have however written sundry Letters, viz. of Apl. 8th. & 12th. June 25th & 29th, Augt 12th and Sept. 3d, and sent Copies of the same, which I hope cannot all have miscarried. The Negotiations for Peace have...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 7 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I but this moment hear of this Opportunity, by which I can only send you a Line to acquaint you, that I have concluded the Treaty with Sweden, which was signed on Wednesday last. You will have a Copy by the first good Opportunity. It differs very little from the Plan sent me,—in nothing material.— The English Court is in Confusion by another Change of...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 24[–25] December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives Sundry Circumstances occurring since mine of the 5th & 14th. have hitherto retarded the Departure of our Dispatches. They will now go under the Security of a British Passport, be accompanied by a Sum of Money, and by some farther Intelligence from England, which show the still unsettled State of Minds there, and, together with the Difficulties and small...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 28 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of LS and of copy: National Archives; (II) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of copy: National Archives I received at the same time your several Letters of Oct. 20, 24 & Novr 26. which I purpose to answer fully by the return of the Alliance. Having...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv This will be delivered to you by M. Thieriot, who goes to Philadelphia by order of his Court as Commissioner of the Commerce of Saxony, in order to establish a Correspondence between the two Countrys, that may, it is thought, be greatly advantageous to both. We have all along had many well-wishers in that Electorate, and I...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 21 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS and transcript: National Archives; press copy of ALS : Myron Kaller and Associates, Asbury Park, New Jersey (1991) I have just received your Letters of Novr. 9. & Decr. 3. This is to inform you, & to request you would inform the Congress, that the Preliminaries of Peace between France, Spain, and England were yesterday signed, and a Cessation of Arms agreed to by the Ministers of those...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I have just received the honour of yours dated Jan 7. Your Communication of the Sentiments of Congress with Regard to many Points that may come under Consideration in a Treaty of Peace, gives me great Pleasure, & the more as they agree so perfectly with my own Opinions and furnish me...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 27 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives The Count Del Verme, an Italian Nobleman of great Distinction, does me the honour to be the Bearer of this. I have not the satisfaction to be personally acquainted with this Gentleman, but am much sollicited by some of my particular Friends, to whom his Merits & Character are known, to afford him this Introduction to you.— He is, I understand, a great...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society Permit me to introduce to you the Bearer Mr. Hogendorff, of an illustrious Family, and Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards. He is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of excellent Character: His principal Design in going to America is to make himself acquainted with the Country, & its Inhabitants: I beg you will favour him with your...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives The Baron de Kermelin, a Swedish Gentleman of Distinction, recommended strongly to me by his Excellency the Ambassador of that Nation to this Court , as a Person highly esteemed in his own , purposes a Journey thro’ North America, to view its natural Productions, acquaint himself with its Commerce, and acquire such Information as may be useful to his...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives We detain the Washington a little longer expecting an English Passport for her in a few Days; and as possibly some Vessel bound for North America may sail before her, I write this Line to inform you that the French Preliminaries with England are not yet signed, tho’ we hope they may be very soon. Of ours, I enclose a Copy. The Dutch &...
13The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives The Proposal inclosed, has been transmitted to us by Mr Bridgen, a Gentleman in London, who has been uniformly a Friend to America, and in a Variety of Ways, and at a great Expence has Served her Cause. It is a Project for introducing Copper Coins into the United States, and Seems to Us to merit the early Attention of Congress, to whom We have the Honour to recommend...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Since I wrote the two short Letters of which I herewith send you Copies, I have been honoured with yours No. 5 dated the 16th Decr. Enclosed I send Copies of two Letters from M. le Comte de Vergennes, relating to certain Complaints from Ostend and Copenhagen against our Cruisers. I...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress Being at Court on Tuesday, I learnt from the Dutch Minister, that the new English Ministry have offer’d thro’ the Ministers of Russia, a Cessation of Arms to Holland, and a renewal of the Treaty of 1674. M. de Berkenrood seem’d to be of Opinion, that the Offer was intended to gain Time, to obstruct the Concert of...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 3 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete LS with complete press copy, LS with incomplete press copy, copy, and transcript: National Archives I have just received your No. 13 dated the 23d June. The Accounts of the general Sentiments of our People, respecting Propositions from England, and the Rejoicings on the Birth of the Dauphin, give Pleasure here; and it affords me much Satisfaction to find the Conduct of Congress,...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 29 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives In mine of the 25th. Inst. I omitted mentioning, that, at the repeated earnest Instances of Mr Lawrens, who had given such Expectations to the Ministry in England, when his Parole or Securities were discharged, as that he could not think himself at Liberty to act in Publick Affairs ’till the Parole of Lord Cornwallis was absolved by me in Exchange,...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I write to you fully by a Vessel from Nantes, which I hope will reach you before this. If not, this may inform you, That the Ratification of the Treaty with Sweden is come, & ready to be exchang’d when I shall receive that from Congress; That the Treaty with Denmark is going on, and will probably be ready before the Commission for signing it arrives from...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 15 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress You complain sometimes of not hearing from us. It is now near three Months since any of us have heard from America. I think our last Letter came with General de Rochambeau. There is now a Project under Consideration for establishing Monthly Packet Boats between France & New-York, which I hope...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy, incomplete press copy of copy, and transcript: National Archives I have lately been honour’d with your several Letters No. 10. March 9. No 11. May 22. and No. 12. May 30. The Paper containing a State of the Commerce in North America, and explaining the Necessity and utility of Convoys for its Protection, I have laid before the Minister, accompany’d by a Letter pressing that it be taken...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 25 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives; incomplete AL (draft): Library of Congress I have received your respected Letters of Jany 26 & Feby 13th. The first was accompanied with the form of a Convention for the Establishment of Consuls. Mr. Barclay having been detained these 6 Months in Holland, tho’ in continual Expectation of returning hither, I have yet done nothing in that Business,...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 5[–14] December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives I am honoured by your several Letters No 16. 17. 18. & 19. dated Sept. 5. 13. 13. & 18. I believe the Complaints you make in some of them of my not Writing, may ere now have appear’d less necessary, as many of my Letters written before those Complaints must have since come to hand: I will nevertheless mention some of the Difficulties your Ministers meet...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 14 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives I have but just received Information of this Opportunity, and have only time allow’d to write a few Lines. In my last of the 26th. past I mentioned that the Negociation for Peace had been obstructed by the Want of due Form in the English Commissions appointing their Plenipotentiaries. In that for treating with us, the Mentioning our States by their public...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 30 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress In mine of the 9th Inst. I acknowledg’d the receipt of yours of Jany. 7. & I have not since received any of later Date. The Newspapers which I send you by this Conveyance will acquaint you with what has since my last passed in Parliament. You will there see a Copy of the Bill brought in by the Attorney Genl: for impowering...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; (II) LS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Since my last an extraordinary Revolution has taken place in the Court of England. All the old Ministers are out and the Chiefs of the Opposition are in their Places. The News Papers that I send will give you the Names as correctly as we yet...
We have the honour to congratulate Congress on the Signature of the Preliminaries of a Peace between the Crown of Great Britain & the United States of America, to be inserted in a definitive Treaty so soon as the Terms between the Crowns of France & Great Britain shall be agreed on. A Copy of the Articles is here inclosed, and we cannot but flatter ourselves; that they will appear to Congress...
27The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 18 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Yale University Library; transcript: National Archives We have had the honour of receiving by Capt. Barney your two Letters of the 25th. of March & 21st of April, with the Papers referred to in them. We are happy to find that the Provisional Articles have...
28The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 14 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; transcript: National Archives We have the honour to congratulate Congress on the Signature of the Preliminaries of a Peace between the Crown of Great Britain & the United States of America, to be inscribed, in a definitive Treaty...
29The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society The Definitive Treaties between the late beligerent Powers are none of them yet compleated. Ours has gone on slowly, owing partly to the Necessity Mr. Hartley (Successor of Mr Oswald) thinks himself under of sending every Proposition, either his own or ours, to his Court for their Approbation; and their Delay...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22[–26] July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft): Library of Congress You have complained sometimes with reason of not hearing often from your foreign Ministers; we have had cause to make the same Complaint, six full Months having intervened between the latest Date of your preceeding Letters, and the receipt of those per Capt. Barney. During all this Time we were ignorant...